To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

The QC, Vol. 76, No. 13 • February 15, 1990

1990_02_15_p001

QUAKER CAMPUS
Volume LXXVI, Number 13 ^■""■■■■■■■■■M „ ,
The Voice of Whittier College Since 1914
February 15, 1990
Late Night Fire Scorches Campus Inn,
Electrical Malfunction Causes Blaze
• Early Morning Estimates Price Damage From Sunday Night's Fire in the
Campus Inn at At Least $500,000.
By Chuck Bock
QC Editor-in-Chief
Rob Cioe QC Sports Editor
An electrical problem with a
refrigeration unit started the fire
that gutted the Campus Inn (CI)
late Sunday night, destroying the
kitchen and scorching the
cafeteria area.
Los Angeles County Fire
Inspector Chris Button's
preliminary estimate of damages
totalled $200,000 to the structure
and $300,000 to the contents.
The estimate was made at 3 AM
Monday and is expected to be
revised.
The Whittier College Security
report said that the fire started in
the northwest corner of the
kitchen, and occured in the
kitchen attic.
No students were injured in
the three alarm fire. A fireman
suffered a sprained knee from
falling down the stairs by the
parking lot.
"Arson was suspected at first,
because a door that should have
been locked was unlocked," said
Larry Bohne, investigator for the
Los Angeles County Fire
Department, "and there were
two points of entry."
Members of AOKP, a campus
gaming society, were the first to
sight the fire.
"We were in mock combat in
the field, and saw smoke," said
Matt Travison, who ran through
the CI and warned students in
the student union and newspaper
office about the fire. "At first we
thought it was in the trash but
then we saw the flames and knew
that it wasn't the trash."
Two students working in the
Quaker Campus office called the
security office. Security called the
fire department. Button said that
the fire department got the call
at 11:25 PM.
The blaze was combatted by 15
firefighting vehicles, including
nine engines, three trucks, and
one mobile air unit. More than 60
firerighters were at the scene.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve
Sherrill said, "The kitchen was
totalled. There was water damage
to the basement and an extensive
overhaul of the entire building
will be needed." The Whittier
College security report says that
neither the bakery or any of
the cooking equipment is
operational.
Right after the fire, power and
utilities to the entire building
were cut for safety reasons. The
student store and radio station
have since re-opened. However,
The Spot is still shut down as its
food supply came from the CI.
Button said that the fire was
under control by 11:55 PM. However, firefighters remained on the
scene well past 5 AM, working to
combat smoke damage.
Insurance agents are still
assessing overall costs. The CI is
insured for accident and fires.
The CI is not equipped with
sprinklers and witnesses and Don
Blackman, security officer for the
college, said that no alarms went
off. ^^^_
This is the second major fire on
campus in three years. In May of
1988, a dormitory room on the
third floor of Wanberg Hall
caught on fire.
Ash Ends Masters Search, With
Drs. Archer, Rhodes, Wadsworth
By Danielle Diego
QC Staff Writer
Whittier College President
James Ash has selected the three
faculty masters who will be the
pioneers of Whittier College's
Faculty Masters Program next
year. The appointees are Dean of
College Life and history professor
Richard Archer, and geology
professors Dallas Rhodes and Bill
Wadsworth. Each, and their
spouses, will be living in newly
constructed housing on campus
next year.
Ash only considered senior
faculty, meaning full professors,
requested a three year commitment, and set high standards for
applicants. As Ash put it, "[It was
important that they] were the
most respected scholars
campus."
Responding to the fact that the
appointees, two geology professors and one history professor, are
all males, and are all ethnically
similar, Ash said, "I preferred a
broader group, early on there
were some, but according to
discussions [with faculty about
appointees], the decision was
clear." Ash added, "Over the
years the diversity of the
community will express itself."
Wadsworth pointed out that his
wife Martha is Japanese, from
Hawaii, "so that adds ethnically
to the variety."
Although Ash made the final
decisions, he views the designations as a collaborative decision
of all faculty. "I started asking
faculty who were the most
respected scholars on campus...
and some names were on every
list," said Ash. Approximately
one-third of Whittier College's
75 faculty members are full
professors.
The main objective of the
Masters Program, according to
Ash, is to give students a model
of people and families who devote
on , their lives to scholarly endeavors.
Another purpose is to generate
campus programs and activities.
"[Faculty Masters] will be the
focus of campus activities," said
Rhodes.
Presently, faculty advisors are
assigned to residence halls as part
of a Faculty Residence Associate
program. The Masters program,
which starts next year, is an
extension of the present plan.
Ash would not give other
faculty names, but said he had
approached others who thought
it was not the right year for them
to do it. However, "no one said
'no,'" said Ash.
Ash pointed out that this was
an unusual faculty appointment
that had to be confidential
because a candidate's home life
has to be discussed.
"It cannot be an open forum,"
said Ash.
Ash's rationale for a senior
faculty master was, "because it is
an academic appointment, and I
believe that especially in the
initial appointment, we should
put our most respected senior
scholarly professor in this
position," said Ash.
The three year commitment
was based on other institution
models, for which no appointees
had a problem with. "It is long
enough to produce continuity...
enjoy relationships with students
beyond the school year, but not
so.long as to be a significant
burden on domestic life," said
Ash.
Please see MASTERS page 3.
SCORCHED: The drinks counter, along with all
the equipment in the Campus Inn, was ruined by
Sunday night's fire. Notice that the clock on the
wall is stopped at the exact time the fire is said to
have started.
Minute By Minute Account
Of One Hot Sunday Night
Here is a timetable and description of the blaze Sunday night,
as compiled through eyewitness accounts, security reports, and
interviews with fire officials.
•^9:25 PM—Securitv officer Raul Perez secures the Campus Inri
(CI).
•^ 11:20 PM—Malfunction in a refrigeration unit causes a fire in
the northwest corner of the CI.
-* 11:22 PM—Members of Ancient Order of the Knights of the
Pendragon notice smoke and flames coming from the CI.
^ 11:24 PM -Matt Travison runs through the building, telling
people that there is a fire.
11:25 PM—Quaker Campus reporter calls security. Security
dispatcher calls the fire department.
-» 11:26-11:29 PM—Flames spread through kitchen of CI.
•+ 11:27 PM—Dispatcher calls Perez to report that CI is on fire.
-♦ 11:28 PM—Students start to congregate and watch.
■ 11:29 PM—Los Angeles County Fire Department arrives and
starts fighting fire. In all, 15 vehicles arrive on the scene, including
one engine from the Sante Fe Springs Fire Department.
► 11:30 PM—Flames shoot out of north and northwest corners of
i the building. Black smoke is now rising through the ceiling and white
j smoke is coming out each of the six West windows and all of the
| windowpanes on the East sides.
i -> 11:32 PM—Perez escorts additional vehicles to the scene.
► 11:48 PM—Firefighters deem the blaze under control. Firemen
on roof start removing tiles and opening ventilation shafts in an effort
j to release smoke from the building.
► 11:55 PM—First firefighter enters the building. Efforts now move
toward dispersing smoke.
► 2:30 AM—Efforts start toward assessing damage and dispersing
j water.
j -> 3:09 AM—Vehicles start leaving.
► 5:00 AM—Last Vehicle leaves.
College Marriages
See Page 4.
Love Connection
See Page 5.
Mendez Unhappy
See Page 8.

QUAKER CAMPUS
Volume LXXVI, Number 13 ^■""■■■■■■■■■M „ ,
The Voice of Whittier College Since 1914
February 15, 1990
Late Night Fire Scorches Campus Inn,
Electrical Malfunction Causes Blaze
• Early Morning Estimates Price Damage From Sunday Night's Fire in the
Campus Inn at At Least $500,000.
By Chuck Bock
QC Editor-in-Chief
Rob Cioe QC Sports Editor
An electrical problem with a
refrigeration unit started the fire
that gutted the Campus Inn (CI)
late Sunday night, destroying the
kitchen and scorching the
cafeteria area.
Los Angeles County Fire
Inspector Chris Button's
preliminary estimate of damages
totalled $200,000 to the structure
and $300,000 to the contents.
The estimate was made at 3 AM
Monday and is expected to be
revised.
The Whittier College Security
report said that the fire started in
the northwest corner of the
kitchen, and occured in the
kitchen attic.
No students were injured in
the three alarm fire. A fireman
suffered a sprained knee from
falling down the stairs by the
parking lot.
"Arson was suspected at first,
because a door that should have
been locked was unlocked," said
Larry Bohne, investigator for the
Los Angeles County Fire
Department, "and there were
two points of entry."
Members of AOKP, a campus
gaming society, were the first to
sight the fire.
"We were in mock combat in
the field, and saw smoke," said
Matt Travison, who ran through
the CI and warned students in
the student union and newspaper
office about the fire. "At first we
thought it was in the trash but
then we saw the flames and knew
that it wasn't the trash."
Two students working in the
Quaker Campus office called the
security office. Security called the
fire department. Button said that
the fire department got the call
at 11:25 PM.
The blaze was combatted by 15
firefighting vehicles, including
nine engines, three trucks, and
one mobile air unit. More than 60
firerighters were at the scene.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve
Sherrill said, "The kitchen was
totalled. There was water damage
to the basement and an extensive
overhaul of the entire building
will be needed." The Whittier
College security report says that
neither the bakery or any of
the cooking equipment is
operational.
Right after the fire, power and
utilities to the entire building
were cut for safety reasons. The
student store and radio station
have since re-opened. However,
The Spot is still shut down as its
food supply came from the CI.
Button said that the fire was
under control by 11:55 PM. However, firefighters remained on the
scene well past 5 AM, working to
combat smoke damage.
Insurance agents are still
assessing overall costs. The CI is
insured for accident and fires.
The CI is not equipped with
sprinklers and witnesses and Don
Blackman, security officer for the
college, said that no alarms went
off. ^^^_
This is the second major fire on
campus in three years. In May of
1988, a dormitory room on the
third floor of Wanberg Hall
caught on fire.
Ash Ends Masters Search, With
Drs. Archer, Rhodes, Wadsworth
By Danielle Diego
QC Staff Writer
Whittier College President
James Ash has selected the three
faculty masters who will be the
pioneers of Whittier College's
Faculty Masters Program next
year. The appointees are Dean of
College Life and history professor
Richard Archer, and geology
professors Dallas Rhodes and Bill
Wadsworth. Each, and their
spouses, will be living in newly
constructed housing on campus
next year.
Ash only considered senior
faculty, meaning full professors,
requested a three year commitment, and set high standards for
applicants. As Ash put it, "[It was
important that they] were the
most respected scholars
campus."
Responding to the fact that the
appointees, two geology professors and one history professor, are
all males, and are all ethnically
similar, Ash said, "I preferred a
broader group, early on there
were some, but according to
discussions [with faculty about
appointees], the decision was
clear." Ash added, "Over the
years the diversity of the
community will express itself."
Wadsworth pointed out that his
wife Martha is Japanese, from
Hawaii, "so that adds ethnically
to the variety."
Although Ash made the final
decisions, he views the designations as a collaborative decision
of all faculty. "I started asking
faculty who were the most
respected scholars on campus...
and some names were on every
list," said Ash. Approximately
one-third of Whittier College's
75 faculty members are full
professors.
The main objective of the
Masters Program, according to
Ash, is to give students a model
of people and families who devote
on , their lives to scholarly endeavors.
Another purpose is to generate
campus programs and activities.
"[Faculty Masters] will be the
focus of campus activities," said
Rhodes.
Presently, faculty advisors are
assigned to residence halls as part
of a Faculty Residence Associate
program. The Masters program,
which starts next year, is an
extension of the present plan.
Ash would not give other
faculty names, but said he had
approached others who thought
it was not the right year for them
to do it. However, "no one said
'no,'" said Ash.
Ash pointed out that this was
an unusual faculty appointment
that had to be confidential
because a candidate's home life
has to be discussed.
"It cannot be an open forum,"
said Ash.
Ash's rationale for a senior
faculty master was, "because it is
an academic appointment, and I
believe that especially in the
initial appointment, we should
put our most respected senior
scholarly professor in this
position," said Ash.
The three year commitment
was based on other institution
models, for which no appointees
had a problem with. "It is long
enough to produce continuity...
enjoy relationships with students
beyond the school year, but not
so.long as to be a significant
burden on domestic life," said
Ash.
Please see MASTERS page 3.
SCORCHED: The drinks counter, along with all
the equipment in the Campus Inn, was ruined by
Sunday night's fire. Notice that the clock on the
wall is stopped at the exact time the fire is said to
have started.
Minute By Minute Account
Of One Hot Sunday Night
Here is a timetable and description of the blaze Sunday night,
as compiled through eyewitness accounts, security reports, and
interviews with fire officials.
•^9:25 PM—Securitv officer Raul Perez secures the Campus Inri
(CI).
•^ 11:20 PM—Malfunction in a refrigeration unit causes a fire in
the northwest corner of the CI.
-* 11:22 PM—Members of Ancient Order of the Knights of the
Pendragon notice smoke and flames coming from the CI.
^ 11:24 PM -Matt Travison runs through the building, telling
people that there is a fire.
11:25 PM—Quaker Campus reporter calls security. Security
dispatcher calls the fire department.
-» 11:26-11:29 PM—Flames spread through kitchen of CI.
•+ 11:27 PM—Dispatcher calls Perez to report that CI is on fire.
-♦ 11:28 PM—Students start to congregate and watch.
■ 11:29 PM—Los Angeles County Fire Department arrives and
starts fighting fire. In all, 15 vehicles arrive on the scene, including
one engine from the Sante Fe Springs Fire Department.
► 11:30 PM—Flames shoot out of north and northwest corners of
i the building. Black smoke is now rising through the ceiling and white
j smoke is coming out each of the six West windows and all of the
| windowpanes on the East sides.
i -> 11:32 PM—Perez escorts additional vehicles to the scene.
► 11:48 PM—Firefighters deem the blaze under control. Firemen
on roof start removing tiles and opening ventilation shafts in an effort
j to release smoke from the building.
► 11:55 PM—First firefighter enters the building. Efforts now move
toward dispersing smoke.
► 2:30 AM—Efforts start toward assessing damage and dispersing
j water.
j -> 3:09 AM—Vehicles start leaving.
► 5:00 AM—Last Vehicle leaves.
College Marriages
See Page 4.
Love Connection
See Page 5.
Mendez Unhappy
See Page 8.